Blackpool Panthers are due at the Shay on Sunday February 8 in the group stages of the former competition while Widnes Vikings will be the first league opponents for Matt Calland's men on Sunday March 22.

Halifax will be confident of progressing from the group stages of the Northern Rail Cup having been drawn in a section with Blackpool and Hunslet, who both struggled in National League Two last season, promoted Barrow and a Sheffield side who finished four places below them this summer.

The sides will meet only once, unlike last year when Halifax played Workington, Keighley and Whitehaven home and away.

Halifax topped Group One before losing in the knockout stages to Celtic Crusaders, who went on to register a league double over Calland's side en route to winning a controversial Super League franchise.

Fax chief executive Graham Clay said: "With all respect to the opposition we expect to do well in the Northern Rail Cup group and progress."

He said that the games against Blackpool and Hunslet represented good winning opportunities. Barrow had recruited well but the fact that Halifax didn't have to travel to Cumbria was a bonus while Sheffield would be a tough place to go for the final group match.

The match against Sheffield will give new capture Rob Worrincy an early return to the Don Valley Stadium while Bob Beswick will go head to head with his former Widnes teammates in Fax's opening league game.

Clay said: "The Widnes match is a bit of a blockbuster and it wouldn't surprise me if they wanted this game for Sky TV - to us it certainly looks the pick of the fixtures.

"Many pundits seem to be predicting that us and Widnes will by vying for top spot come the end of the season. Hopefully this fixture will excite the fans as well."

Widnes's trip to the Shay will actually be on the second weekend of Championship action - Fax sit out the opening round of fixtures in an 11-team competition.

Clay said: "We are hoping for a good Northern Rail Cup run and then we will have a week off to get over the bumps and bruises."

Fax will head to competition newcomers Toulouse on July 18 and Clay revealed that the club was planning VIP trips for fans to travel with the players for the game at the start of the traditional holiday season.

"The players are excited about the chance of a weekend away and to play on foreign soil," said Clay.

The return game against the French side is the last match of the regular programme on September 5.

Clay added: "Overall we are pleased with the fixture list and the way the cards have been dealt.

"It should certainly be an interesting season.

Halifax 2009
February
8 Blackpool Panthers (NRC)H
15 Hunslet Hawks (NRC) A
22 Barrow Raiders (NRC) H

March
1 Sheffield Eagles(NRC)A
22 Widnes Vikings H
28 Barrow Raiders A

April
10 Batley Bulldogs H
13 Whitehaven A
19 Doncaster RLFC H
26 Gateshead Thunder H

May
4 Featherstone Rovers A
10 Leigh Centurions A
17 Sheffield Eagles H
24 Doncaster RLFC A

June
14 Barrow Raiders H
28 Gateshead Thunder A

July
3 Leigh Centurions H
18 Toulouse Olympique A
24 Featherstone Rovers H
31 Widnes Vikings A

August
9 Whitehaven H
14 Sheffield Eagles A
23 Batley Bulldogs A

September
5 Toulouse Olympique H